Traffic cameras barred from I-95

Lawmakers blocked traffic cameras on Interstate 95 and extended the distance a motorist may drive a golf cart so that cart operators don't exhaust their two-mile maximum before they leave their neighborhood.

The S.C. House approved S. 1298, a bill that suspends certain highway regulations during declared emergencies. But legislators did so after amending it to include the golf-cart proposal from Rep. Bill Herbkersman, R-Bluffton, and the traffic-cameras prohibition from Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Columbia.

"We need to take a look at this, and not a little town raising money while we are out of session," said Rutherford arguing against traffic cameras on the House floor and snapping his fingers to emphasize how rapidly motorists would rack up speeding tickets if cameras were installed.

The plan to place unmanned radar and cameras on Ridgeland's stretch of I-95 was approved by the Ridgeland Town Council in April. A speeding ticket was estimated to average $133, with 63 percent paid to the state, and the remaining $48 split between the town and the contractor, iTraffic.

The amended bill now heads to the Senate, where it has already passed in its original form.

But both Rutherford and Herbkersman predicted their proposals would meet little objection.

"Hopefully, it will stay on," said the Bluffton lawmaker, referring to his amendment to let golf-cart operators start measuring their two-mile limit at the entrance to their gated community instead of from their driveway.

"It is fairly innocuous," Herbkersman said after his amendment was approved.

Rutherford said Wednesday he would speak with members of the Senate about his amendment, noting that too many variables pertaining to catching speeders by installing cameras were left unaddressed.

Among his questions: How much time does a motorist get to respond to a ticket? What happens if someone other than the automobile's owner is behind the wheel?

"This body does not like Big Brother," Rutherford said.

The Ridgeland traffic-camera system would have been the state's first, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Ridgeland Mayor Gary Hodges recently advocated for the camera system on the town's website.

"At present, the people of Ridgeland are paying the majority of costs related to public safety on I-95 and to me this doesn't seem to be fair," he wrote.

"Why not let the unsafe drivers who are causing the problems on I-95 pay for these services?"

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